Community marks opening of Bellarine Memorial Park

ON Friday 29 May, Geelong Cemeteries Trust officially opened Bellarine Memorial Park, marking a significant milestone years in the making and one made all the more meaningful by the people who gathered to celebrate the occasion.

The opening brought together Traditional Owners, government representatives, local organisations, industry colleagues, staff and community members to recognise the opening of the new memorial park and its importance to the growing Bellarine region.

The day began with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Ash Skinner from the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, acknowledging the enduring connection of Wadawurrung people to Country.

Speaking on behalf of the minister for health, Bellarine MP Alison Marchant reflected on the important role memorial parks play in community life and shared her personal connection to and appreciation of cemeteries and Geelong Cemetries Trust.

Marchant described cemeteries as places where stories live on and connections between generations are preserved.

“Over time, our memorial parks have evolved,” she said. “They are recognised as important public spaces. Places where people can walk, sit quietly, reflect on loved ones, remember and connect.

“Long after today’s ceremony, this park will become part of the lives of many families from our region and beyond.”

The official opening was followed by a community open day delivered in partnership with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Bellarine Catchment Network.

Held during National Reconciliation Week, the event invited visitors to explore the location through guided walks, cultural storytelling and hands-on planting activities that highlighted the environmental, cultural and community values shaping the memorial park.

Among the highlights was a walk and talk on Country led by Ash Skinner, who shared stories of the Bellarine Peninsula and the enduring relationship between Wadawurrung people, the land and its waterways.

Geelong Cemeteries Trust chief executive Dean Matthews said the opening provided an opportunity for the community to experience the vision behind Bellarine Memorial Park first-hand.

“From the beginning, this project has been about creating a place that balances remembrance with community connection and care for the natural environment,” he said.

When fully developed, Bellarine Memorial Park will provide space for more than 60,000 interments and memorials, offering a diverse range of burial and memorial options. Walking paths, revegetated landscapes and future environmental initiatives will ensure the site continues to evolve as a place of remembrance, reflection and connection for generations to come.

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